[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 133 (Thursday, July 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45994-45995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17428]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Columbus 
Museum, Columbus, GA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the Columbus Museum, Columbus, 
GA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Columbus 
Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of 
Alabama; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, 
Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations. 
Representatives of the Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe 
of Indians of Florida; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma were invited 
to consult at museum expense, but declined to participate.
    In 1981, human remains representing one individual were removed 
during salvage excavations at the Coweta tallahassee site (1RU11), 
Russell County, AL, by staff of the Columbus Museum. No known 
individual was identified. The 914 associated funerary objects are 1 
British sword hilt with blade fragments, 2 musket balls, 2 gun flints, 
15 brass buttons, 891 blue glass beads, 1 white glass bead, 1 brass 
buckle, and 1 scabbard buckle. The associated funerary objects indicate 
that these human remains were probably buried during the early 18th 
century. Site 1RU11 is believed to have been the location of the Creek 
community of Coweta tallahassee. Benjamin Hawkins, the United States 
Principal Temporary Agent for Indians South of the Ohio River, 
established an agency at Coweta tallahassee in 1797. He noted that 
Coweta tallahassee was inhabited by European Americans, Europeans, and 
African Americans, as well as Native Americans. While it is not 
possible to conclusively demonstrate that these human remains are 
Native American, the preponderance of the evidence supports a 
determination that they are more than likely Native American.
    In 1957-1983, human remains representing 66 individuals were 
removed during salvage excavations at the Abercrombie site (1RU61), 
Russell County, AL, by staff of the Columbus Museum. No known 
individuals were identified. The 859 associated funerary objects are 
780 whelk shell beads, 5 whelk shell face mask gorgets, 1 pair of shell 
earrings, 1 olive shell, 2 large mussel shells, 1 large mussel shell, 1 
large cockle shell, 2 greenstone disks, 1 greenstone spatulate celt 
(spud), a lithic ``toolkit'' consisting of 41 pieces of chert and 11 
pieces of bone or antler, 1 chert flake, 1 bone spatula, 1 bone tine, 1 
antler tip, 1 reconstructed pottery jar with scroll design, 1 pottery 
duck head effigy, 1 pottery vessel, 1 copper or brass arrow pendent, 1 
Hispanic olive jar sherd, and 5 glass trade beads. The three pottery 
vessels are believed to have been manufactured around A.D. 1550-1650. 
The Hispanic olive jar is believed to have been manufactured around 
A.D. 1600. The five glass trade beads are believed to have been 
manufactured around A.D. 1590. The associated funerary objects and 
other diagnostic artifacts found at site 1RU61 indicate that these 
human remains were probably buried during the 16th or early 17th 
centuries. Benjamin Hawkins noted that the site was abandoned at the 
time of his visit in 1797.
    In the 17th century, the area in which 1RU11 and 1RU61 are located 
was called the Province of Apalachicoli by the Spanish. The area is 
believed to have been occupied by Hitchiti speakers until the late 17th 
century when Muskhogee speakers also known as the Lower Creek -- 
occupied the area. Both the Hitchiti and the Lower Creek are ancestral 
to the present-day Creek and Seminole and other Indian tribes.
    In 1967, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from the Pinkston site (1Mc6), Macon County, AL. No known individual 
was identified. The human remains were donated to the Columbus Museum 
by Frank Morast. Mr. Morast also donated seven items that he identified 
as having been found with the human remains. The seven associated 
funerary objects are one copper/brass chest plate, two copper/brass 
neck bands, one copper/brass disk, and two copper/brass armbands. The 
Pinkston site (1Mc6) is purported to have been the Muskogee town site 
of Autosi.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Columbus 
Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human 
remains listed above represent the physical remains of 68 individuals 
of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Columbus Museum also have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 1780 objects 
listed above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near 
individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the 
death rite or ceremony. Lastly, officials of the Columbia Museum have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship 
of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between these 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and the 
Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of 
Alabama; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, 
Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and 
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town,Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Kialegee Tribal Town, 
Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Muscogee (Creek) 
Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; Seminole 
Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa 
Reservations; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Thlopthlocco Tribal 
Town, Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and 
associated funerary objects should contact Jeanne Marie Warzeski, the 
Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA 31906, telephone (706) 
649-0713 or fax (706) 649-1070, before August 12, 2002. Repatriation of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Kialegee 
Tribal

[[Page 45995]]

Town, Oklahoma; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Muscogee 
(Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; 
Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & 
Tampa Reservations; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Thlopthlocco 
Tribal Town,. Oklahoma may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.

    Dated: June 6, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-17428 Filed 7-10-02; 8:45 am]
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